Case Study: North East Mississippi EPA

About NEMEPA

North East Mississippi Electric Power Association (NEMEPA) was established in 1936 following the efforts of local rural leaders who sought to bring electricity to their underserved communities. Through meetings in small towns like Abbeville, Oxford, and New Albany, a board of directors was formed to lead the creation of this electric cooperative. By 1938, electricity was flowing through 95 miles of distribution lines, transforming the lives of nearly 200 homes in the region. The arrival of electric power replaced oil lamps with electric lights and introduced modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing and electric appliances, significantly improving the quality of life for rural families.

Over the years, NEMEPA has grown substantially, expanding its service to residential, commercial, and industrial members across a 920-square-mile area. The cooperative now maintains 2,079 miles of power lines and serves nearly 29,000 meters, supported by a network of substations and a dedicated team of 77 full-time employees. While it continues to honor its agricultural roots, NEMEPA has evolved to meet the diverse energy needs of its expanding membership, playing a vital role in the development and well-being of the communities it serves across multiple counties.

A Demand For Reliable Connectivity

NEMEPA wanted to offer its members the most advanced and reliable internet service available, recognizing that fiber optic technology was the key to meeting modern demands for speed, bandwidth, and security. With the increasing reliance on internet services for everything from streaming and online education to telecommuting and smart home technology, NEMEPA saw the need to provide a solution that could keep pace with these growing requirements. Fiber internet, with its enhanced performance in speed and reliability, was identified as the optimal solution to provide members with uninterrupted, high-quality internet service that meets the growing demands of modern connectivity.

NEMEPA faced the daunting task of building a massive fiber network to serve a rapidly growing number of residential and commercial customers across their expansive service area. With a goal of installing over 1,200 miles of primary fiber and completing thousands of in-home installations, this project was slated to become one of the largest and most complex in the cooperative’s history.

The Solution

National OnDemand, Inc. played an essential role in overcoming the significant challenges of NEMEPA’s fiber network build-out, successfully installing over 1,200 miles of primary fiber and completing more than 4,000 in-home installations in just over a year. Their expertise and meticulous project management, which included the organization of an off-site warehouse and the efficient handling of materials, ensured that the fiber build in new zones was executed smoothly, on schedule, and with minimal disruption. National’s quick response times and effective problem-solving were key to minimizing downtime, allowing NEMEPA to maintain its reputation for excellent customer service. This combination of reliability, professionalism, and strategic management helped build strong confidence in NEMEPA’s new fiber network and positioned them to achieve their ambitious goal of 10,000 installs within three years.